By Lisa Russell
Visiting
San Francisco doesn't have to cost a fortune. There are plenty of cheap ways to visit San Francisco. Skip the overpriced tour companies and start exploring the city by the bay.
Walking Tour of San Francisco
There are plenty of places to walk around and see the sights in San Francisco. Ghirardelli Square, The Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and the steep hillsides of the surrounding Victorian neighborhoods are great places to simply wander around aimlessly, soaking up the sights. San Francisco City Guides offers free guided walking tours, or you can invent your own.
San Francisco City Guides
c/o SF Public Library
100 Larkin St.
San Francisco, California 94102
(415) 557-4266
www.sfcityguides.org/
Candlestick Point State Recreation Area
Candlestick Point was the first urban recreation area in the state, and offers a breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay. It gets its name from the custom of burning abandoned ships during the 19th century. Apparently they looked like candles. The park offers picnic areas, hiking trails and two fishing piers.
California State Parks Foundation
50 Francisco St., Suite 110
San Francisco, California 94133
(415) 262-4400
www.calparks.org/programs/resources/candlestick-point.html
Tour Wineries
Visit Cellar 360 in the Woolen Mill Building at Ghirardelli Square for wine tasting. Or, hop in the car and enjoy the scenery as you wander from one winery to another, sampling the vintage. The surrounding Napa Valley wineries offer wine tastings, as well as culinary offerings, like wine and food pairing lessons, and sampling of wines with cheeses and chocolates.
Cellar 360
900 Northpoint, Suite F301
San Francisco, California 94109
(415) 440-0772
www.cellar360.com
About the Author:
Lisa Russell is an entrepreneur and writer from Washington State, with a professional background in education, cosmetology and the restaurant industry. She's been published in regional parenting publications, homeschooling publications and has published over 10,000 articles online since 1999. She studied Early Childhood Education at Antelope Valley College.
